The BBC announced a host of new drama commissions tonight - including a series set during ancient times: Atlantis.

Created and written by Howard Overman, the show will occupy the autumn Saturday teatime slot on BBC One left vacant by Merlin when it ended its five-series run last December. However, two names familiar to Merlin viewers will be involved in the 13-parter about the mythical city: Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy, who were part of the quartet of Merlin's creators, will executive-produce the show with Overman for the trio's new production company.

The city of Atlantis is a mysterious, ancient place; a world of bull-leaping, of snake-haired goddesses, and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants.

It's into this strange, compelling realm that the young Jason arrives and an amazing adventure begins, bringing to life the vast store of Greek myths and legends, re-imagined for a new generation.

Shooting begins in Wales and Morocco next month. The 45-minute episodes will be executive-produced for BBC Cymru Wales by Bethan Jones.

In addition, during the event this evening at which BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson set out his vision for BBC Drama, it was revealed that the BBC One crime-drama Death In Paradise - currently averaging almost 8 million consolidated viewers per episode in its second run on Tuesday nights - would be recommissioned for a third series of eight 60-minute episodes, to be shown next year.

Stephenson said: Drama and the BBC are inseparable – it is written through the BBC like a stick of rock. No other broadcaster in the world has drama so firmly in its DNA. I want to make BBC drama a cultural institution – a touchstone for quality and modernity with all the excitement and glamour of a curtain going up.

My aim is to build a BBC drama department that has an enormous international reputation. That means making us more British than ever - it is about applying the Danny Boyle vision to our work - a bold, adventurous, authorial approach that exports because of its Britishness not despite it. A BBC that feels inspiringly creative - where there is a buzz and creativity and anything goes optimism.

Ultimately, I can boil this down to one thing – I want to make the BBC the hallmark of quality drama and the automatic home for the best talent in the world.

The series is set in a time of legendary heroes, mythical creatures, and gods, with the programme reimagining Greek myths and legends. The fabled city of Atlantis is currently being built at sites in Wales and Morocco. Filming starts next month and the programme will air this autumn.

Parish said:

I am thrilled to be part of Atlantis. It's a very exciting project and I can't wait to start filming. while Addy commented: I am very excited to be invited along on this epic adventure. The scripts bring to life ancient myths with such a vibrancy and sense of humour; I knew I wanted to be a part of it. and Stevenson said:

I am delighted to have joined the cast of Atlantis, and very excited to be working with the team. This genre is new to me, so I am looking forward to a great adventure. It has been created and written by Howard Overman, whose pedigree includes writing for Merlin and creating, writing for, and executive-producing Dirk Gently, which was based on the Douglas Adams novels. Merlin co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy are, along with Overman, the executive producers of Atlantis. It is being made by Little Monster Films and being executive-produced for BBC Cymru Wales by Bethan Jones.

Ben Stephenson, the controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, said:

The fantastic cast announced for Atlantis is testament to the ambition and scale of Howard Overman's scripts. Some of the UK's best-loved actors are joining our newest talent to take the BBC One audience to a rich and wonderful world where any adventure is possible.

BBC America’s new 13-part fantasy drama series, Atlantis, created by Howard Overman (Misfits), Julian Murphy (Merlin) and Johnny Capps (Merlin), is set in a time of legendary heroes and mythical creatures. A mysterious place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired Goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants – this is the lost city of Atlantis. The cast includes Mark Addy (Game of Thrones), Jemima Rooper (One Man, Two Guvnors, Hex), Juliet Stevenson (The Hour), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys), Robert Emms (War Horse), Aiysha Hart (About Time) and Jack Donnelly (Dancing On The Edge). The series is an Urban Myth Films production for BBC Cymru Wales co-produced with BBC America.

Atlantis premieres Saturday, November 23 as part of Supernatural Saturday.

The 13-episode show - seen as a replacement for Merlin, which ended last December after five series - will start in the UK on Saturday 28th September, according to the BBC Media Centre, although the broadcast time is yet to be confirmed.

The images show Jack Donnelly as Jason, who has been searching for his father for 20 years and finds himself washed up on the shores of the ancient land, Robert Emms as Pythagoras and Mark Addy as Hercules - the two friends he makes there, Alexander Siddig as Atlantis's King Minos, Sarah Parish as the king's wife Pasiphaë, Aiysha Hart as Ariadne, his heir, Joe Dixon as Ramos, the king's battle-hardened general, Juliet Stevenson as the Oracle, Ken Bones as Melas, a high priest in the Temple of Poseidon and trusted ally of the Oracle, and Jemima Rooper as Medusa

BBC America’s new 13-part fantasy adventure series, Atlantis, created by Howard Overman (Misfits), Julian Murphy (Merlin) and Johnny Capps (Merlin), is set in a time of legendary heroes and mythical creatures. A mysterious place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired Goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants – this is the lost city of Atlantis. The cast includes Mark Addy (Game of Thrones), Jemima Rooper (One Man, Two Guvnors, Hex), Juliet Stevenson (The Hour), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys), Robert Emms (War Horse), Aiysha Hart (About Time) and Jack Donnelly (Dancing On The Edge). The series is an Urban Myth Films production for BBC Cymru Wales co-produced with BBC America.

Atlantis premieres Saturday, November 23 as part of Supernatural Saturday.

BBC1's Saturday night fantasy series Atlantis has been renewed for a second series.

The family friendly drama, which stars Game of Thrones' Mark Addy, Jack Donnelly, Juliet Stevenson and Sarah Parish, will return to our telly screens for another run of ancient Greek adventures.

The fantasy series, which airs after Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night, has so far done well in the ratings, with the BBC calling it its "biggest new Saturday night drama series launch across all channels since Robin Hood in 2006."

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said: "Atlantis delivers original British drama with the kind of scale and ambition that we've come to expect from the cinema. It feels very much at home on Saturday nights on BBC1, it's been wonderful to watch Howard and the team create a whole new world, brilliantly inspired by Greek mythology which is proving a hit with all the family and a second series is richly deserved."

Atlantis follows the escapades of Jason, Hercules and Pythagoras as they get into scrapes in the mythological lost city of Atlantis. The series, which has been created by Misfits creator and Merlin writer Howard Overman, fills the gap left by highly-popular fantasy series Merlin, starring Colin Morgan, Katie McGrath, Angle Coulby and Bradley James, which finished at the end of its fifth series last Christmas.

My gawd it is tediously, gnawingly dull. Biggest load of drivel I've subjected myself to in a long time. The premise is flawed, there has been no explanation of how he got there and why. The acting is baneful. Mark Addy is "supposed" to be Hercules - HERCULES!!!

I loved Merlin and followed it avidly, but this is dire in comparison.

My gawd it is tediously, gnawingly dull. Biggest load of drivel I've subjected myself to in a long time. The premise is flawed, there has been no explanation of how he got there and why. The acting is baneful. Mark Addy is "supposed" to be Hercules - HERCULES!!!

I loved Merlin and followed it avidly, but this is dire in comparison.

It's not supposed to be high drama. It's a bit of Saturday night fun. I don't suppose they CAN reveal just how he got there 'til much later on...if not, right at the end ? Will Jason's Dad turn up, or will Jason wake up and say 'Auntie Em !" ?

I watched the first episode, realised the writers weren't interested in the slightest with any plausible story line and gave up. Just because it's only supposed to be 'Saturday night fluff' isn't a suitable excuse for giving up on telling a decent story, which includes keeping the suspension of disbelief intact.